Students involved in fund raising efforts

Teneal Barwick

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The field of pharmacy is calling Teneal Barwick in her future plans.

For now, she’s a 10th-grader at West Port High School.  She’s involved in both the drama program and medical programs at the school and she’s an honor student.

You won’t find Teneal on stage.

“I enjoy performing the role of a technician,” she said. Working on scenery is one of her favorite backstage jobs, especially when that job involves the use of power tools. It is in the drama program at the county’s magnet school for the arts, West Port, where Barwick learned to use those tools so necessary in building scenery and backdrops for productions.

Barwick is one of 13 other students in the drama program with their sights on going to Scotland in August.

Students in the drama program were invited to participate in the 2011 Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August. The prestigious festival requires a nomination and then the selection of your school’s program by three judges. West Port was of 48 schools from 2,000 nominations selected to attend and the only school in Florida extended an invitation.

Since receiving the invitation, students, parents and drama teacher Janet Shelley have worked to raise the necessary funds for the trips. Donations from the community, fund raising efforts, the selling of a discount card to area businesses and personal contributions have aided the cause. Additional donations are still required to have the necessary $90,000 for the two-week trip.

Residents wishing to donate to the cause may send donations to the West Port High School, Drama Department, 3733 S.W. 80thAve., Ocala, Fl., 34481. For more information, call 291-4000.